LOS ANGELES -- A happy Dwight Howard walked into Staples Center just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday to face his former team, the Lakers, for the first time in Los Angeles to a throng of media in the bowels of the arena.

McHale said in Howard's lone season with the Lakers, he just "couldn't move" still recovering from back surgery.

His happiness with his role, playing second fiddle behind an aging Kobe Bryant was always in question during his short stint in Purple and Gold.

With the Rockets, Howard's points are up slightly -- 18.8 to 17.4 he averaged last season. But his blocks are down -- 1.8 with the Rockets compared to the 2.4 blocks per game last season in Los Angeles.

McHale said he's had talks with Howard about returning to Staples Center to face the Lakers for the first time. However, he doesn't have much advice to offer, because it's not exactly his area of expertise.

"Dwight's just got to go out and play," McHale said. "I talked to Dwight about it. He's just got to go out and play basketball. I don't know. I spent my whole career in one spot. I never had that (problem)."